Track clearer



BORN ET Al,

TRACE CLEARER Filed June 1 1925 &

awucnfo 'u 0. 6'. Barry.

Dec. 13, 1927.

1,652,603 0. c. BORN ET AL.

TRACK CLEARER Filed June 1926 2 S hests-Sheet 2 Patented Dec. 13, 1927.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

, OTTO C. BORN A ND AUGUST B. DAUSES, F BALTIMORE, IlVIARfYLikIIDv TRACK CLEARER.

A'pplication filed June 15, 1926. Serial No. 116,207.

The primary purpose of this invention is the provision of means for removingiice and snow from the grooves of railway tracks embodying channeled rails to receive the flanges of car wheels.

In accordance with this invention a. clearer is supplied and adapted to be attached to a snow plow to operate in advance thereof for loosening the snow on the bed of the track and removing snow and ice from the groove of the rails thereby preventing derailment of the plow and rolling stock.

The invention furthermore provides a track clearer embodying individual plows, one for each rail of the track, and connect ing means between the plows and the sweeper to admit of the plows having independent movement within certain limits to prevent any binding tendency and insure freedom of movement.

The invention also contemplates a scoop extending across the road bed and pivotally and loosely connected to the plows to yield so as to prevent. injury to the parts or hinderance to their freedom of movement.

WVhile the drawings illustrate a preferred embodiment of the invention, it is to be un derstood that in adapting the means to meet specific needs and requirements, the design may be varied and such other changes in the minor details of construction may be resorted to within the scope of the invention as claimed, without departing from the spirit thereof.

For a full understanding of the invention and the merits thereof, reference is to be had to the following description and the drawings hereto attached, in which,-

Figure 1 is a side view of a track clearer embodying the invention, and showing the same coupled to a sweeper or plow,

Figure 2 is a top plan view of the part illustrated in Figure 1,

Figure 3 is a detail sectional view on the line 3-3 of Figure 1, and

Figure 1 is a view of one of the plows inverted, or as seen from the bottom side.

Corresponding and like part-s are referred to in the following description and designated in the several views of the drawings by like reference characters.

The numeral 1 designates a snow plow or track sweeper, such as usually employed for removing snow from railway tracks. The attachment comprises similar plows 2 which is adapted to operate in the groove 6 of a rail 7 for removing ice, snow, or other matter therefrom. The front face of the block 2 is upwardly and rearwardly inclined from the lower side and is laterally and rearwardly inclined from a medial point, whereby to cut through the snow and deflect the same laterally from opposite sides of the rail. \Vhilethe body of the plow partakes of the nature of a block, nevertheless, it is to be understood that it may be of any construction so long as it is provided with the depending rib 5 and has its front face upwardly and laterally inclined to deflect the snow from opposite sides of the rail upon which the plow is adapted to travel with the rib 5 operating in the groove 6 of the rail 7. A lug 8 projects rearwardly from the body of the plow and a link 9 pivoted. thereto forms connecting means between the plow and the frame of the sweeper 1. The link 9 is pivotally connected at its lower forward end to the plow 2 and at its upper rear end to the sweeper 1.

Parallel links 10 and 11 connect the opposite plows 2 and are pivoted thereto in any preferred way. These links keep the plows 2 in parallel relation. A rod 12 has its ends let into openings 13 formed in the opposing sides of the plows 2. The openlugs 13 flare outwardly to admit of a free movement of the plows 2 without producing any binding action between the lows and the rod 12. A scoop 14 is pivotally mounted upon the rod 12 and curves forwardly and downwardly and terminates in teeth 15 which are adapted to readily penetrate snow or ice upon the road bed, so as to remove the same. The ends of the scoop 14 are inclined, as indicated at 16 to admit of a relative fore and aft movement of the plows 2 incident to travelling around curved portions of a railway track. A stop 17 projects laterally from each of the plows 2 and engages the lower forward portion of the scoop 14 to limit the downward movement thereof, and these stops preferably consist of threaded pins mounted in threaded openings formed in the sides of the plows 2.

erative position.

In practice the track clearer is located forwardly of the plow or sweeper 1 and is connected thereto by means of the links 9 so that the plows 2 may have an independent movement to adapt themselves to the track, without encountering any binding action. The depending ribs 5 and the flanges of the wheels 4; operate in the grooves 6 of the rails 7, thereby maintaining the plows in op- The forward ends of the ribs 5 are pointed and operate to remove ice, snow, or other matter from the grooves 6. The snow is deflected laterally in opposite directions "from the rails 7 of the track by the plows. The snow upon the road bed is elevated by means oi the scoop 14; and

passes upwardly thereover and is loosened and lightened thereby so that the rotary brush 18 of the sweeper l'removes the same from the track in an effective manner and with the expenditure of'a minimum amount of power. The attachment serves to loosen and lighten the snow and ice in advance of the track sweeper, thereby facilitating the action and insuring a thorough removal of the snow from the track, besides cleaning the grooves of'the rails, all being eflected at. one' operation. 7 Having thus described the invent-ion, we claim 1. ,A track clearer comprising side plows, one for each rail of the track, connecting means between the plows, and a scoop mounted upon and carried by the plows and having a pivotal movement and a loose connection with the plows to prevent any binding.

2. A track clearer comprising opposite plows, links connecting the plows, a rod supported between the plows and having its ends let into enlarged openings formed in the sides of the plows, and a scoop pivo tally mounted upon said rod and cut away at opposite ends to provide clearance to prevent any binding action between the plows and scoop.

8. In combination with a track sweeper, opposite plows located forwardly of the sweeper and adapted to run upon the rails of the track and guided thereby, forwardly and downwardly inclined links pivotally connecting the respective plows with the sweeper, other links pivotally c'onneating the opposite plows, a scoop pivotally supported between the plows andyloosely connected thereto to prevent any binding, and stops projecting inwardly from the plows to limit the downward movement of the lower forward p ortion o f the scoop.

In testimony whereof we afii'x our signatures.

OT 0 B RN. [mi AUGUST B. DAUSES. [Ls] 

